Bhopal– A man was injured in a tiger attack on Monday while working in his field near the Bandhavgarh Tiger Reserve in Madhya Pradesh, marking the fourth such incident in the area in recent weeks.
The victim, Rajbali Baiga, a resident of Kusmaha village, was tending to his field in nearby Kothia village, under the jurisdiction of the Indwar police station, when the attack occurred. According to police, the tiger appeared to have been drawn to the field by a tube well used for irrigation.
“The tiger approached the area, seemingly to drink water, and suddenly attacked Rajbali as he paused near the well,” said Govind Singh, officer-in-charge of the Indwar police station. “He managed to flee, but not before the tiger inflicted an injury to one of his legs.”
A forest patrolling team responded quickly and helped rescue Rajbali, who was then transported to Manpur Hospital, where he is currently receiving medical treatment.
This incident is the latest in a series of human-wildlife encounters in and around the Bandhavgarh Tiger Reserve. On April 2, a woman was killed in a separate tiger attack. Despite repeated warnings from police and forest officials, local residents continue to enter forests and fields alone, increasing their risk of such encounters.
“We urge villagers to travel in groups and stay alert when entering areas near the reserve,” Singh said.
In a related case, a tigress from the Dhamokhar range of the reserve, known for a pattern of attacks on humans, was recently captured and relocated. The tigress had previously killed a young boy, Vijay Kaul, and injured a woman, Rita Baiga, while they were collecting Mahua flowers in the forest. Rita survived and was referred to a hospital in Jabalpur for further treatment.
Authorities noted that the tigress had also targeted livestock and pets in nearby villages, creating widespread fear among residents before her relocation.
Forest officials continue to monitor tiger activity in the area and have increased patrolling to prevent further incidents. Residents are being urged to follow safety guidelines and report any tiger sightings immediately. (Source: IANS)
